Modeling Texturing 2.0

Important Links

Winter 2021 Student Google Drive Repo: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PGKymfvfAmYddVF2TCBoSoHSctpJXAx6?usp=sharing
Tutorial Images: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QZmKhK4NBUPIN_FKqtzmWsURE1RkLw-E?usp=sharing
Video Lessons/ Demos https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1R3GXz44oJYzgnjDQ5WGqg6P4728YAHah?usp=sharing
Zoom Class Recordings (Winter2021) https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FA7xDRd0gPpk-n-lqLDUt9gNnkFVK6gt?usp=sharing

Reference Resources

Reference Image Repo (modeling folder): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OysJwVxkTnDpZJ1VTWGIa7l0YKIMPYQc?usp=sharing
Topology https://www.pinterest.com/rmfalck/topology/
Topology https://www.pinterest.com/tbowser01/wireframe/
Anatomy https://www.pinterest.com/rmfalck/anatomy-refs/

Create Accounts here…

Required Software/ Hardware

Autodesk Maya, Pixologic Zbrush, Substance Painter.

Wacom Intuos Tablet (Can be rented from CCS)



Project Specs

Image submission can be hosted anywhere (suggest Artstation, Sketchfab, Drive, or Discord), with links posted to Discord for critique and discussion. Project files as required delivered through Google Drive repository. Each project is 25% of your grade. Each project is weighted by, Final image(s), requirements met, quality, delivery date, critique participation.

Project #1 Still Life (3 Weeks)

Deliverables: One beauty images, one close-up, and "model breakdowns" , wireframe/ao images, uv/texture examples.
Details: Completed minimum 3 models. One plant, one man-made object, plus one asset of your choosing. Think organic and hard surface objects with multiple surface types (metallic, non metallic). Vase/ Flowers/ Environment asset(s)/ additional prop(s). Fully textured and rendered.
Objectives: Basic Modelling/ Surfacing practice. Maya refresher. Understanding texture types (diffuse/ albedo, bump/height/normal/displacement, opacity/ translucency, greyscale maps (metalness, roughness, specular). Photoshop texture creation. Masking, channel management, "atlases", brush and brush preset creation, creating 'tiling' textures. Texture formats. (.jpg, .png, .tga, .tif, .exr, .hdr,)

Inspiration/ Examples:

Project #2: Character Bust (4 Weeks)

Deliverables: One beauty images, one close-up, and "model breakdowns" , wireframe/ao images, uv/texture examples. Will also accept delivery via Sketchfab.
Details: Sculpt, retopologize, UV and texture a character bust using zbrush/ maya/ substance workflow.
Objectives: Explore character creation, sculpting and texturing tools. Introduce high to low poly workflow; re-topology, texture baking.
Examples/ Inspiration

Project #3 Asset Remix (3 Weeks)

Deliverables: One beauty image, one close-up, and "model breakdowns" , wireframe/ao images, uv/texture examples OR Sketchfab Upload.
Details: Design and create an asset, or small number of assets, using individual elements or materials from unrelated objects. Mad Max -eqsue, re-purposing of objects, cyborg, home-made, inanimate object come to life, etc.
Objectives: Strengthen general design skills, improve modeling sophistication, detailing, and efficiency.
Examples/ Inspiration

Project #4 Final (5 Weeks)

Deliverables: One beauty image, one close-up, and "model breakdowns" , wireframe/ao images, uv/texture examples OR Sketchfab Upload.
Details: Project TBD. Character/ Environment/ Prop/ Scene.
Objectives Show off complete understanding of artistic and technical fundamentals. Composition, Silhouette, Modeling, Surfacing, Lighting, Design etc. Complete an awesome portfolio pieces.
Examples/ Inspiration


Learning Resources

Maya Official Support

Tutorial Providers

YouTube Channels

Maya Basics

Art Resources


Weekly Schedule


Week 1 - Maya/ Modeling Basics

Intro's

UI

Pipeline

Tools

Modeling Fundamentals

DEMO
Blockout/ Modeling hard surface objects

Project Progress
Full scene Blockout and asset modeling progress. Models becoming ready to UV unwrap during week 2.


Week 2 - UVs + Materials/ PBR

UVs

Materials/ Rendering

* Rendering Glass Surfaces in Arnold https://docs.arnoldrenderer.com/display/A5AFMUG/Rendering+Glass+Surfaces+with+Arnold
* Create Glass using ai Standard Surface material https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYmq_cSb5Mg
* Leaf Example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82Vgd0E3p2w
* How to render transparent glass https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-render-transparent-glass-in-Maya-with-Arnold.html
* Advanced/ Caustics https://docs.arnoldrenderer.com/display/A5AFMUG/Advanced

  • Notes:
    • "Opaque" flag on objects with transmission or opacity
    • "Alpha Is Luminance" flag for greyscale texture nodes using RGB
    • Normal maps "Raw"

Texturing

  • Photoshop Fundamentals
  • Masks, Brushes, Adjustment Layers

DEMO
Axe Material/ Photoshop texturing.

Project Progress
Modeling Finished, UVs unwrapped, Texturing in Progress


Week 3 - Texturing + Rendering, Maya Issues

Review

Rendering

Arnold Tutorials

DEMO
Foliage Modeling/ Texturing
Rendering/ Compositing

Project Progress
Finish Texturing and Final renders.
PROJECT #1 DUE


Week 4 - Zbrush Basics

ZBrush

*2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx8Ni_7bgYw&list=PLkzopwqcFevYP1Nm3wIKsyH-jQTkk8AhS&t=0s

Demos

Sculpting Tips

Project Progress
Model Blockout/ Initial Sculpt. Retop Progress.


Week 5 - Retopology

Retopology

ZBrush

Final Sculpt

  • SubDivisions
  • Layers
  • Alphas/ Drag Rect
  • Morph Targets/ Morph Brush
  • BPR Rendering
  • Displacement/ Noise
  • Deformers
  • Lazy Mouse
  • Do's/ Don'ts (clipping geo)
  • Materials/ Fill Color/ Alphas
  • Zbrush Project all

Demos

Project Progress
Retopology finished, High poly sculpt near completed.


Week 6 - Substance Basics

Final Mesh Prep

Substance

Importing/ Mesh Map Baking

Stuff to Know

  • Textures sets
  • Fill layers vs Paint Layers
  • Painting / Masking/ Blending Multiple Channels
  • Layer / Mask effect stacks
  • Adding/ Manipulating textures w Fill layers
  • X Key, mask invert
  • Alphas/ Stencils/ Projection Tool
  • Levels Adjustments

Demos

Project Progress
Final Models finished, Begun Texturing


Week 7 - Substance Tools + Sketchfab Rendering

Substance

Sketchfab

  • Environment
  • Materials
  • Model Prep
  • Lighting
  • Post Effects

Project Progress
Textures Finished, Model Rendered

PROJECT TWO DUE / MIDTERMS


Week 8 - Zbrush + Maya, Blockout tools

First Half Review.

Zbrush

Hard Surface Techniques

Maya

Project Progress
Model Blockout


Week 9 - Sculpting and Detailing

Zbrush

Project Progress
Retopology/ Sculpts


Week 10 - Substance Tools

Substance
Baking 101

Emissive Textures

Substance

Photoshop

  • Making a patch
  • Wands, Defringe, High Pass, Mask Properties
  • Black/White vs Desaturate

Rendering/ Post

Project Progress
Texturing/ Rendering

PROJECT #3 Due


Week 11 - Finals Kickoff

Finals Overview

  • Final image needs to be awesome
  • Models in good technical shape (topology, UV layout)
  • Shows off specific range of best skillset
  • Follows good art and design fundamentals
    • Composition, color theory, value, proportion, perspective, "movement", repetition, space etc.

*Studio*

Project / Model setup

Arnold Using multiple UV sets

Substance

Project Progress
Blockout/ Sculpting


Week 12 - Zbrush IMM Hair/ Misc

Zbrush IMM

*ZModeler*

Project Progress
Sculpting/ Modeling/ UVs


Week 13 - XGen, Posing Characters in ZBrush

XGen

Zbrush

Final Models/ UVs/ Texturing/ Materials


Week 14 - Texturing/ Materials/ Shaders

Substance Sampler Overview

Hypergraph Nodes


Week 15 - Reviews + Studio

Final Critiques

Project Progress
Rendering/ Compositing/ Final Touches

FINALS DUE

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